I'm down here at the beach for a nursing conference. Last night, I went for a walk on the beach, and sprained my ankle really badly. In spite of icing it, taking an NSAID, and elevating it, it was so painful this morning that I asked my friend KW to take me to the local emergency room. I was really fearful I'd broken it (which would be a total disaster to my weight loss program).
When I get there, I'm asked to fill out a registration slip It includes requests for odd information, including my place of birth and my maiden name/ married name. I had already circled the "D" for divorced on marital status, but being asked for the other two bits of information raised an eyebrow and I didn't want to answer the questions, so I left them blank. It is really none of their business and has nothing to do with treating my medical problem.
Three different clerks tried to insist on getting this information from me. I got really annoyed. I finally told them, "it's none of your business. It has nothing to do with treating my ankle." They wouldn't stop pushing, kept up with a line of "we need it to check medical records in case you've ever been here before."
Me: I've never been here before
Clerk: Well, if you were unconscious, we'd need to know if you'd been here before.
Me: I am conscious, alert, and oriented, and I'm telling you I've never been here before.
So she leaves, and comes back with a cop! I got really pissed: she was clearly using law enforcement to try to bully me into going along with her paperwork demands for information I'm not obligated to share with her. Once she did that, I was determined not to give in. I dug in my heels even more.
Me: Now I'm getting angry. I'm offended by this. You have no cause to bring security into this.
Cop: Now I'm offended.
Me: Why are you offended?
Cop: Because I'm a police officer, not a security guard.
That's when I notice his sidearm.
Me: I didn't see your weapon. You are indeed a police officer. I apologize . . . but that still has nothing to do with anything.
Clerk: Well, we don't know who you are because you won't answer our questions.
Me: I've told you who I am. The information you want you are not legally entitled to (yes I put it like that). EMTALA says you have to give me a medical screening exam. I don't have to answer these questions to get one.
Clerk: We'll treat you, but we need to know who you are. Do you have identification? (note: this is a major EMTALA no no. They can't insist on completing registration before seeing a patient).
Me: I have identification . . . but I will not show it to you I will show it to him (the cop) if he asks.
Cop: yes, please.
So I give him my driver's license. he takes it out of the room, and probably photocopied it for the hospital, then gave it back to me. They let the matter drop.
I'm not letting it drop. I'm drafting a letter to their CEO, and considering whether or not to file a complaint with JCAHO for an EMTALA violation. They delayed caring for my medical emergency because I wouldn't give them information they have no right to.
If I do file an EMTALA complaint, and it is upheld, then it is a $50,000 fine.
The doc and the nurses were great, however. I did get good care . . . once I finally got it.
When I get there, I'm asked to fill out a registration slip It includes requests for odd information, including my place of birth and my maiden name/ married name. I had already circled the "D" for divorced on marital status, but being asked for the other two bits of information raised an eyebrow and I didn't want to answer the questions, so I left them blank. It is really none of their business and has nothing to do with treating my medical problem.
Three different clerks tried to insist on getting this information from me. I got really annoyed. I finally told them, "it's none of your business. It has nothing to do with treating my ankle." They wouldn't stop pushing, kept up with a line of "we need it to check medical records in case you've ever been here before."
Me: I've never been here before
Clerk: Well, if you were unconscious, we'd need to know if you'd been here before.
Me: I am conscious, alert, and oriented, and I'm telling you I've never been here before.
So she leaves, and comes back with a cop! I got really pissed: she was clearly using law enforcement to try to bully me into going along with her paperwork demands for information I'm not obligated to share with her. Once she did that, I was determined not to give in. I dug in my heels even more.
Me: Now I'm getting angry. I'm offended by this. You have no cause to bring security into this.
Cop: Now I'm offended.
Me: Why are you offended?
Cop: Because I'm a police officer, not a security guard.
That's when I notice his sidearm.
Me: I didn't see your weapon. You are indeed a police officer. I apologize . . . but that still has nothing to do with anything.
Clerk: Well, we don't know who you are because you won't answer our questions.
Me: I've told you who I am. The information you want you are not legally entitled to (yes I put it like that). EMTALA says you have to give me a medical screening exam. I don't have to answer these questions to get one.
Clerk: We'll treat you, but we need to know who you are. Do you have identification? (note: this is a major EMTALA no no. They can't insist on completing registration before seeing a patient).
Me: I have identification . . . but I will not show it to you I will show it to him (the cop) if he asks.
Cop: yes, please.
So I give him my driver's license. he takes it out of the room, and probably photocopied it for the hospital, then gave it back to me. They let the matter drop.
I'm not letting it drop. I'm drafting a letter to their CEO, and considering whether or not to file a complaint with JCAHO for an EMTALA violation. They delayed caring for my medical emergency because I wouldn't give them information they have no right to.
If I do file an EMTALA complaint, and it is upheld, then it is a $50,000 fine.
The doc and the nurses were great, however. I did get good care . . . once I finally got it.
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